2015 Fresh Corn Silage Results – NY and PA

Lots of corn silage was harvested in the Northeast in September, we had more than 500 samples come through the lab from NY and PA as fresh corn silage samples. So, what did fresh corn silage in NY and PA look like this year?

State

DM, %

CP,
% DM

ADF,
% DM

NDF,
% DM

Starch,
% DM

Starch Digestibility,
% Starch

Ash,
% DM

CSPS

NY (n=347)

34.2 ± 5.9

7.3 ± 0.9

24.6 ± 3.2

42.8 ± 4.6

33.6 ± 6.1

64.7 ± 10.3

3.6 ± 0.8

61.3 ± 8.6

PA (n=173)

33.2 ± 5.5

6.6 ± 1.1

25.3 ± 3.2

43.8 ± 4.7

33.8 ± 5.1

66.1 ± 7.4

3.4 ± 1.0

-

Starch values are up from what we saw in September of 2014 (NY: 28.9 6.6, Starch, % DM and PA: 30.6 5.8, Starch, % DM) and very close to the 14 year average, 33.1 7.8 % DM. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) is lower than in September of 2014 (NY: 45.4 5.3, NDF, % DM and PA: 45.0 5.0, NDF, % DM). Harvest DM is in the ideal range for storage in horizontal bunkers, bags, and top loading upright silos (http://bit.ly/1PgHNs5).

This fall the Dairy One Forage Lab also added Corn Silage Processing Score (CSPS) as a service. So far for this service samples have averaged in the Adequate processing range (50 to 70%), with only 1 sample under 50 and 2 samples over 70. Corn silage processing is important to make the maximum amount of starch available from the kernels.